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Best Electric Lawn Mower: Sun Joe vs GreenWorks vs Ego vs Black & Decker

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Ego logo
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Snapper logo
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Earthwise logo

Want to rid your lawn chores of gas fumes and pull cords? An electric lawn mower could be the perfect solution, especially if you’re committed to being as environmentally friendly as possible.

In years past, electric mowers haven’t cut it power-wise. But many of today’s models sport enough juice to do your yard justice. Read on for our best electric lawn mower reviews and to learn which products we recommend.

Article Overview

Electric vs Gas Lawn Mower: What Are The Benefits?

In general, the best gas mowers still overpower electric mowers, but the gap is closing as technology advances. Why consider going electric? Here are a few reasons. Electric mowers:

  • They are more environmentally friendly than gas mowers.
  • Are quieter than gas mowers.
  • Have easy push start buttons, rather than pull cords.
  • Require less maintenance.
  • Don’t require added costs for gas, oil, and plugs.

Best Electric Lawn Mower Winners

Our electric lawn mower reviews and rankings take several factors into account, including performance, durability, features, price, customer feedback, and more.

Ego 21 Inch 56-Volt Cordless Mower Review

Ego 21" 56-Volt Electric Lawn Mower#1

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The Ego 21″ 56-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower is hands down the best cordless lawn mower on the market and our number one choice overall for the best electric mower. This lawnmower is a powerhouse compared to other electric mowers — and it’s self-propelled to top it off.

Another big plus with this mower is the 60-minute battery life compared to 30-45 minutes for other electric mowers. The catch? It’s not cheap, but if you have a larger yard, it’s hard to find a similar mower that will do the job. If the price is too hefty and you don’t have to have a self-propelled mower, our number two pick is an excellent solution.

Pros

Cons

  • 60-minute battery run time and 60-minute charge time
  • Self-propelled
  • Three-in-one discharge options: mulch, bag (large grass bag), or side
  • Polymer deck won’t rust compared to steel
  • LED headlights
  • Ergonomic folding handle
  • Five-year warranty
  • Expensive
  • Must purchase side discharge chute separately
  • No website locator for nearby service centers

Pricing & Tech Specs

  •  – includes one 7.5Ah 56-V battery, rapid charger and 2-bushel grass bag
  • Cutting path: 21″
  • Number of cutting positions: 6
  • Minimum cut height: 1-1/2″
  • Maximum cut height: 4″
  • Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

Snapper XD 82V Cordless Walk Mower Kit Review

Snapper XD SXDWM82K 82V Cordless 21-Inch Walk Mower Kit#2

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The Snapper XD SXDWM82K 82V Cordless 21-Inch Walk Mower Kit wins our #2 top spot as the best electric mower. Snapper has produced high-quality lawn equipment for more than half a century, and this cordless electric mower is no exception.

This 82-volt mower has a powerful motor, is very durable, and the two included 2Ah Lithium-ion batteries give you plenty of juice to get your lawn done. Unlike many other batteries, they go full charge until depleted. Each battery lasts about 45 minutes, and they charge within half an hour (rapid charger included). You also can swap them out for longer-life 4Ah batteries if you choose.

At this price point and a five-year warranty to boot, the Snapper is hard to beat for a rechargeable lawnmower.

Pros

Cons

  • Excellent value for a cordless mower
  • Smart, efficient load sensing technology – power adjusts to meet the demands of the cutting blades
  • Three-in-one discharge options: mulch, bag, or side
  • The website includes an online search for service providers near you
  • Ergonomic folding handle
  • Five-year warranty
  • Heavy push mower
  • Steel mowing deck tends to rust compared to more durable polymer

Pricing & Tech Specs

  • $529.00 – includes two 2Ah batteries, one rapid charger and a 1.6 bushel bagger
  • Cutting path: 21″
  • Number of cutting positions: 7
  • Weight: 90 lbs
  • Warranty: 5 year limited, 2 years for batteries

Earthwise 60420 Cordless Mower Review

Earthwise 60420 40-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower#3

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The Earthwise 60420 40-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower rounds out our top three picks as the best electric lawnmower. This battery lawn mower comes with two lithium-ion batteries (a 2Ah and a 4Ah). When combined, they last an average of 45 minutes.

In addition, this mower allows for mulch, bag, or side dispensing of lawn clippings. Earthwise didn’t make it into our top two choices mainly because the battery charge time is longer than competitors, and their warranty isn’t up to par with similar products.

If you don’t have the budget to afford our top two picks, Earthwise is likely your best bet for a mid-priced cordless electronic lawnmower. 

Pros

Cons

  • Competitive price
  • Three-in-one discharge options: mulch, bag, or side
  • Lighter-weight than many comparable mowers
  • Quiet motor
  • Large wheels for easier maneuvering
  • Ergonomic folding handle
  • Overall excellent consumer reviews
  • Battery charge time is two hours
  • Cutting path not as wide as our #1 pick
  • Steel mowing deck
  • Warranty is only two years
  • No website search locator for nearby service dealers

Pricing & Tech Specs

  • Check Amazon for availability – includes two lithium-ion batteries (a 2Ah and a 4Ah), charger and bagger
  • Cutting path: 20″
  • Number of cutting positions: 7
  • Minimum cut height: 1-1/2″
  • Maximum cut height: 4″
  • Weight: 53 lbs
  • Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

Other Electric Lawn Mower Reviews

The following products didn’t make it into our top three winners, but if you have a smaller budget or yard, they’re worth consideration.

Black & Decker | GreenWorks | Sun Joe

Black & Decker CM1640 Cordless Mower Review

Black & Decker CM1640 16-Inch Cordless MowerView on Amazon

The Black & Decker CM1640 16-Inch Cordless Mower is ideal for smaller yards (up to 1/8 of an acre). This battery-operated lawnmower doesn’t pack the punch of our top winners, but it’s still a solid choice at a good price if you have a small yard.

It’s easy to use, with a push-button starter and lightweight construction, making it a superb choice for the elderly or people with physical conditions who can’t handle a heavy mower.

Pros

Cons

  • Good value
  • Lightweight
  • Polymer deck won’t rust
  • Easy to find service dealers near you
  • Fully compatible with Black & Decker’s 36-volt lithium-ion system (trimmers and blowers)
  • Batteries only last 30 minutes and take two-three hours to recharge
  • No side discharge or mulching options
  • Grass bag has a small capacity
  • Some users complain that it stalls out easily
  • Warranty is only two years

Pricing & Tech Specs

  • $320.53 – includes two 40-V lithium-ion batteries, charger and 9.5 gallon attachable grass bag
  • Cutting path: 16″
  • Number of cutting positions: 6
  • Minimum cut height: 1-1/10″
  • Maximum cut height: 3-1/10″
  • Weight: 38 lbs
  • Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

GreenWorks 25022 Corded Mower Review

GreenWorks 25022 12 Amp Corded 20-Inch Lawn MowerView on Amazon

Although all of our other reviews here are of cordless electric lawnmowers, we wanted to include the GreenWorks 25022 12 Amp Corded 20-Inch Lawn Mower as a budget-friendly option if you’re committed to being green and can’t afford higher-end models. At less than $150, this mower is hard to beat (for corded mowers) and is a #1 Best Seller on Amazon.

Sure, having your mower hooked up to a cord restricts your maneuverability and distance, but we recommend this product if you can’t afford a cordless one. GreenWorks also carries an affordable line of cordless electric mowers.

Pros

Cons

  • Excellent price
  • Don’t have to deal with dead batteries
  • Three-in-one discharge options: mulch, bag, or side
  • Ergonomic folding handle
  • Four-year warranty
  • Corded, so not as flexible as our other reviewed products
  • Must purchase cord separately
  • No service center locator on the website
  • Some consumers complain about cheap construction

Pricing & Tech Specs

  • Check Amazon for availability
  • Cutting path: 20″
  • Number of cutting positions: 7
  • Minimum cut height: 1-1/2″
  • Maximum cut height: 3-3/4″
  • Weight: 56 lbs
  • Warranty: 4-year parts & labor warranty

Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM Cordless Mower Review

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The Sun Joe iON16LM 40 V 16-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower is another smaller-scale, battery-powered lawn mower like the Black & Decker but with a couple of noteworthy differences.

The Sun Joe is less expensive, and its mower’s battery and brushless motor are a bit more powerful than its Black & Decker counterpart and lighter weight.

The Sun Joe’s cutting width is an inch shorter, and they don’t offer a service center locator on their website.

Pros

Cons

  • Reasonable price
  • The battery lasts up to 40 minutes
  • Lightweight
  • Polymer deck won’t rust
  • Ergonomic folding handle
  • Grass indicator window tells you when the bag is full
  • The battery takes 2-3 hours to recharge
  • No side discharge or mulching options
  • Grass bag has a small capacity
  • Several user complaints about batteries and/or unit dying too quickly
  • Warranty is only two years

Pricing & Tech Specs

  • $349.00 – includes one 4.0 Ah/40 V lithium-ion battery, charger and attachable 9.25 gallon grass bag
  • Cutting path: 15″
  • Number of cutting positions: 6
  • Minimum cut height: 1.18″
  • Maximum cut height: 3.15″
  • Weight: 34.2 lbs
  • Warranty: 2-year full warranty

How Does Electric Stand Up Against Gas Power?

Overall, gas-powered lawnmowers are more durable and powerful than electric lawnmowers. But that’s not to say that all-electric mowers are created equal. Check out this Consumer Reports‘ video that pits our top-rated electric mower, the Ego, against a Toro gas mower.

How Else To Stay Green With Your Lawn Care?

Ditching gas for electric mowers helps our environment, for sure. We hope our cordless lawn mower reviews have helped you narrow down your options and make a selection. Another way to stay earth-friendly with lawn care is by switching to organic lawn and garden fertilizer.

Read our article to find organic fertilizer recommendations and tips for use. Are you still not sold on an electric mower? You can stay green and go high-tech check out this robotic lawn mower.

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Sally Jones

While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s graduate school for journalism and public relations in the late 1990s, Sally began a long career researching and writing about business, technical and scientific topics. Her decades of experience as well as a passion to stay on top of the latest online tools and resources combine to help small businesses (and freelancers like herself) flourish. Her work has appeared in many notable media outlets, including The Washington Post, Entrepreneur, People, Forbes, Huffington Post, and more.
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